The Second Station of the Cross

Reflection: Jesus takes up his Cross. Jesus is now put to labor, that of taking up his cross and carrying it to where he will find death. All that he has done to free those around him has gained him a heavy burden to carry. Not us, we don't take our crosses as easily, sometimes we shift that cross to others. Jesus on the other hand out of love for us takes it and carries it the distance. He is humble and teaches us to learn to take up our crosses with as much grace and humility as he did. He doesn't shift the burden to God but places it at his feet in humble supplication to help him carry the burden. How often have we done this as we are handed our own crosses, firstly accepting it with grace and then asking God to help us carry it as well. Don't be afraid to take up our crosses as well, because Jesus did it and he will do it again with us, for he knows more than anything how it feels to be given one.

Prayer: Our Father and Glory Be

The First Station of the Cross

Reflection: Jesus is condemned to death. As Jesus stands there waiting for the verdict of his life. He is a model of patience in a moment of trial. One can only imagine how he endured it with such dignity amid the cruelty of those present. Not of resignation, but knowing this is what he is called to do. He stands there listening to those around him, but his thoughts are focused on his Father. His constant prayer and continuous conversation with God is what gives him the strength to endure this moment of betrayal. He's not thinking, where are my disciples, where are the people I cured, why aren't they standing up for me and witnessing what I have done for them. No, he is giving God glory and praise instead. Because he knows his Father and his love for him is great. How well do we fare when we encounter our trials and how well do we pray and surrender them to God as Jesus did in his moment of complete abandonment of others.

Prayer: Our Father and Glory Be

Then went one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, to the chief priests, And said to them: What will you give me, and I will deliver him unto you? But they appointed him thirty pieces of silver. And from thenceforth he sought opportunity to betray him. And on the first day of the Azymes, the disciples came to Jesus, saying: Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the pasch? But Jesus said: Go ye into the city to a certain man, and say to him: the master saith, My time is near at hand, with thee I make the pasch with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus appointed to them, and they prepared the pasch. But when it was evening, he sat down with his twelve disciples. And whilst they were eating, he said: Amen I say to you, that one of you is about to betray me.

And they being very much troubled, began every one to say: Is it I, Lord? But he answering, said: He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, he shall betray me. The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man shall be betrayed: it were better for him, if that man had not been born. And Judas that betrayed him, answering, said: Is it I, Rabbi? He saith to him: Thou hast said it.
Matthew 26:14-25 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father to read the account of the actual betrayal should warn us about the repercussions. How many of us have actually betrayed another or for that matter witnessed one. But it is worse if we have done it to you dear Father and to your son. It truly would be better if we weren't born then. I don't know how it feels to betray a person, I can only imagine what a soul goes through. But when a person does this to another, it's easy to see the change they undergo. In the workforce many betray their coworkers daily. Not in the effect that they might be stealing, but more in the fashion of gaining a better position for more money. It's amazing to see how they fidget and change in their demeanor when they do this. How can a conscience live in you dear Father when it's like this. One can only imagine then, the fate Judas comes to because his betrayal was far worse than what people do to each other. His was to Jesus. We have such a beautiful gift of the sacrament of Reconciliation for the many, many souls who perform acts as these to help in cleansing their conscience as well as their souls. Love does conquer!

When Jesus had said these things, he was troubled in spirit; and he testified, and said: Amen, amen I say to you, one of you shall betray me. The disciples therefore looked one upon another, doubting of whom he spoke. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, and said to him: Who is it of whom he speaketh? He therefore, leaning on the breast of Jesus, saith to him: Lord, who is it? Jesus answered: He it is to whom I shall reach bread dipped. And when he had dipped the bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the morsel, Satan entered into him. And Jesus said to him: That which thou dost, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew to what purpose he said this unto him. For some thought, because Judas had the purse, that Jesus had said to him: Buy those things which we have need of for the festival day: or that he should give something to the poor. He therefore having received the morsel, went out immediately. And it was night. When he therefore was gone out, Jesus said: Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, God also will glorify him in himself; and immediately will he glorify him. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You shall seek me; and as I said to the Jews: Whither I go you cannot come; so I say to you now.

Simon Peter saith to him: Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered: Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow hereafter. Peter saith to him: Why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thee. Jesus answered him: Wilt thou lay down thy life for me? Amen, amen I say to thee, the cock shall not crow, till thou deny me thrice.
John 13:21-33, 36-38 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father if we ever think our life has lots of problems all we have to do is turn to the readings that speak of the betrayal and denials of your Son. We too tend to betray and deny both you and him when we seek to do our own thing. Do we ever think when we take care of others, how often we betray them when we speak to others of their confidences to us. Or how we manipulate to gain information to hurt another. Many wars are in this way. Jesus trusted even though Judas betrayed Him, he loved rather than hated. How easy it would have been for Jesus to hate all those who went against Him, yet He never did. All he ever did was love and care for us to undergo the severe trials that were put to Him. Do we handle our daily trials with this type of grace, with trust that you, our dear Father will get us through it. So when we think of betraying or denying anyone or vice or versa, think of what Jesus went through as well.

Jesus therefore, six days before the pasch, came to Bethania, where Lazarus had been dead, whom Jesus raised to life. And they made him a supper there: and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that were at table with him. Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of right spikenard, of great price, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, he that was about to betray him, said: Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and having the purse, carried the things that were put therein. Jesus therefore said: Let her alone, that she may keep it against the day of my burial. For the poor you have always with you; but me you have not always. A great multitude therefore of the Jews knew that he was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests thought to kill Lazarus also: Because many of the Jews, by reason of him, went away, and believed in Jesus.
John 12:1-11 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father this morning when I read this Gospel, I couldn't write a thing about it. I tried all day long to ponder this precious moment in the life of your Son Jesus. When I reread it again this evening, it struck me about flowers from the other day. It was so powerful and poignant to smell hundreds of scented flowers that were not there. I didn't realize the depth of the message until it was recalled. Do we in our lives have moments where we are at odds with our Lord? Of course we do, but we in our stubborn way sometimes don't thank him or reconcile with him. It's a relationship all the same and in this reading Mary shows that relationship with Jesus by anointing His feet and wiping them with her hair, because she is thankful and she loves Jesus. I love him too and when I argue with him, I go to the one place where I too can kneel at his feet and anoint them with my thankfulness, or bath them with my tears of sorrow and dry them with happiness. Because in my relationship with Jesus I always seek to mend the hurt I might cause him. Or ask his forgiveness for my not understanding him better. Some of them didn't have that relationship with Jesus in the Gospels, some wanted only for themselves what they could get, but never give back in the relationship.